Smoker&#39;s Compact Utility Device and System

ABSTRACT

A compact utility device, system, and method of use for and by smokers is disclosed. The compact utility device is configured to have at least two separate compartments formed in the case, and independent doors located at an end of the case to allow access to each of the separate compartments. The system further comprises certain tools including a removable grinder card, a “one-hitter” smoking tool, and a poker to clear the “one-hitter.” A separate full length door or opening is also included over the grinder card screen section to allow access to the grinder card, and when the grinder card is removed, access to the compartment holding the cleaned and ground tobacco. Further, the system may include separate, removable sub-compartments, for use to hold cleaned and ground tobacco or concentrates. The utility case may be manufactured from various thermoplastic materials including polycarbonate or polyvinyl chloride.

BACKGROUND DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION

Smokers have rolled, prepared, and smoked tobacco, other herbs, and tobacco concentrates for centuries. While in many countries, especially in the United States, the manufacture of cigarettes is predominantly undertaken today by machines, many smokers find enjoyment and satisfaction with the individual hand preparation of their own smoking materials. Indeed, the use of “one-hitters,” or single smoke devices has developed a substantial user base.

The use of such smoking products, including one-hitters, generally includes the one-hitter device, the tobacco, and a cleaning tool, or poker. Having a convenient tool kit or device to store these devices, tools, and product is a problem that continues today, and has resulted in several limited solutions. The proper preparation of tobacco for use with a one-hitter usually also includes the need to grind and clean the tobacco prior to pressing the tobacco into the end of the one-hitter to be lit and smoked. There is accordingly a need to have ready access to a grinding screen along with the one-hitter and cleaning tool.

Moreover, because such tools are repeatedly used in the preparation of smoking products, it would be beneficial to have a single container, or utility case that could be used to readily house the noted components (storage for tobacco, one-hitter bat, poker, and grinder screen) so that the product and tools are secured in one compact device or container, and are easily retrieved and used.

Various tools, containers and smokers' kits have been designed and manufactured for years. Examples of such tools, containers and kits include U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,974 for a Multi-Purpose Accessory for Smokers (the “974 patent”); U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,335 for a Smoker's Utility Apparatus (the “'335 patent”); U.S. Pat. No. 4,600,022 for a Composite Smoker's Kit (the “'022 patent”); U.S. Pat. No. 4,129,135 for a Smoker's Tool (the “'135 patent”); U.S. Pat. No. 2,072,388; U.S. Pat. No. 1,704,549; and U.S. Pat. No. 1,571,003. Each of these patents disclose certain products and devices with particular uses, but none provides a comprehensive solution for the overall objective and need to compactly, and securely hold tobacco product separate from a smoker's bat and poker, and having a grinder screen positioned directly above a compartment to store ground and cleaned tobacco.

Moreover, certain products are currently commercialized that have certain features that address one or two of the noted problems, but such products do not comprehensively solve the several objectives and issues presented. For example, various containers called “dugouts” are commercialized and provide a means for holding a small amount of smoking material and a single metal “bat,” or one rolled smoking product. Typically, a dugout device is approximately the size of a cigarette pack and generally has a swiveling top element that rotates to open two compartments at the same time. The two compartments are, as noted, generally used to store smoking material in one compartment, and a metal bat or rolled smoking product in the other compartment. Another device, called the OmniHV includes certain tools including a poker, a stuffer, and a grinder, but does not appear to include or have features such as a storage slot for a grinder card, or storage compartments for tobacco or any tobacco concentrates.

Accordingly, while certain of the current designs and products appear to provide certain components and elements to address some of the noted problems, none is a comprehensive solution disclosing a compact smoker's utility tool system for used by the smoking public. What is needed is a system, including devices, an apparatus, and/or a case for use by smokers that provides a compact utility case with at least two compartments, a grinder card, along with several sub-compartments that can be effectively used by smokers to grind and clean tobacco, and can hold a one-hitter bat, and a poker/scooper device. Such an apparatus does not appear to have been created, disclosed, or used in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art and fulfills the needs described above by providing systems, devices, and cases having at least two compartments to hold a one-hitter bat, a poker/scooper device, and a removeable grinder card, that may be readily used by smokers to grind and clean tobacco, and prepare smoking materials.

One preferred embodiment of the invention is a smoker's utility system, comprising a case having at least two compartments formed within said case; each of the at least two compartments having at least one openable door located at one end of each said at least two compartments; at least one of said at least two compartments having an openable full length lid formed as a partial top to said case; at least one sub-compartment formed within one of said at least two compartments; at least one separate, removable container sized to fit within said at least one sub-compartment; a grinder card section positioned within said case and said grinder card section covering one of said at least two compartments; a one-hitter smoking device that fits into one of said at least two compartments; and a poker tool that fits into one of said at least two compartments and may be used to clean an air passage in said one-hitter smoking device.

Another embodiment of the invention is a smoker's utility system, comprising a case having at least two compartments formed within said case, with each of said at least two compartments having at least one openable door located at one end of each said at least two compartments; at least one of said at least two compartments having an openable full length lid formed as a partial top to said case; at least one sub-compartment formed within one of said at least two compartments; at least one separate, removable container sized to fit within said at least one sub-compartment; a card-type slot formed along at least two edges of said case; a removable grinder card that slides into said card-type slot, wherein when in position within said case, said removable grinder card covers one of said at least two compartments; a one-hitter smoking device that fits into one of said at least two compartments; and a poker tool that fits into one of said at least two compartments and may be used to clean an air passage in said one-hitter smoking device.

A further embodiment of the invention is a compact smoker's utility device, comprising a case having at least two compartments formed within said case; each of said at least two compartments having at least one openable door located at one end of each said at least two compartments; at least one of said at least two compartments having an openable full length lid formed as a partial top to said case; and a grinder card positioned to fully cover said compartment having an openable full length lid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in a reference number generally refer to the figure number in which that element is first introduced.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the smoker's utility case shown in a fully closed configuration.

FIG. 2A is another overhead perspective view of an embodiment of the smoker's utility case with the doors and lid shown in an open configuration.

FIG. 2B is another overhead perspective view of an embodiment of the smoker's utility case with the doors and lid shown in an open configuration and showing where a single separate container may fit within the tobacco holding compartment.

FIG. 3 is a further overhead perspective view of an embodiment of the smoker's utility case from a different view and without the grinder screen.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the smoker's utility case showing the two compartment doors in a closed configuration.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the smoker's utility case.

FIG. 6A is another cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the smoker's utility case showing the slot formed to hold a grinder card and where a single separate container may be housed within the larger storage compartment.

FIG. 6B is a further cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the smoker's utility case showing the slot formed to hold a grinder card and showing where three individual separate containers within the larger storage compartment may be housed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

A system of tools and primary devices for use by smokers is described and disclosed. At its core, the system 100, generally shown in FIG. 1 includes a compact utility case 102 that houses and maintains certain smoker's tools, including a grinder screen 130, a smoker's bat 140, and a poker/scooper cleaning tool 150. The utility case 102 is designed to be smaller in size, and compact for ease of use and storage, but may in alternative embodiments be manufactured in a variety of sizes, dimensions, or shapes. Similarly, while in one embodiment, the system 100 is disclosed having a grinder screen 130, a removable smoker's bat 140, and a separate poker/scooper 150 set of tools, additional tools may be included to enhance the utility of the system.

As shown in certain key embodiments in FIGS. 1 through 6B, the utility case 102 may have a generally box or cube shape with two separated larger compartments 204 and 210. Access to the compartments 204, 210 is through smaller doors 106, 108 located at one end of the utility case 102. Additionally, access to one of the two compartments 210 may also be through a full length larger door 110 as shown in FIG. 2A. Each of doors 106, 108, and 110 are connected to utility case 102 by respective hinges 106 a, 108 a, and 110 a that allow each door to swing fully open and thereby allow full access to compartments 204 and 210. Each door 106, 108, and 110 further may include an edge section 106 b, 108 b, 110 b that extends slightly above the respective door surface and provides an edge to which an opening force may be applied to readily open each respective door 106, 108, 110.

In a further embodiment, magnets may be incorporated into an edge of each door 106, 108, 110 and the opposing section of utility case 102 to provide a retaining force and thereby assist in maintaining each of said doors 106, 108, 110 in a closed position. As a further enhancement, in another embodiment, each door 106, 108, 110 may incorporate a sealing element around the perimeter of each door to protect the contents within each compartment 204 and 210 from spilling or falling out of the utility case 102, or from outside contaminates, such as moisture, dust, and dirt, from getting into compartments 204 or 210.

FIG. 2A also shows utility case 102 with doors 106, 108, 110 open to expose the interior of compartments 204 and 210, and showing interior wall 202. As shown in this embodiment, one of the two compartments, in this case compartment 210, has a shorter dimension than the full length of utility case 102, and shorter than compartment 204. The longer compartment, in this embodiment, compartment 204, is sized to fit and easily house a smoker's bat 140 and the poker/scooper 150. In this embodiment, the smoker's bat 140 and poker/scooper 150 fit within compartment 204 with plenty of open space and volume to allow for cooling and heat dissipation, especially for the smoker's bat 140 after use.

The shorter dimension of compartment 210, shown in FIG. 2A, provides space for a separate container 250, shown in FIG. 2B and FIG. 6A, to be housed in area or sub-compartment 220. As illustrated in FIG. 2B separate container 250 has a cube or box shape, and has a height and depth that approximately matches the height and depth of sub-compartment 220. The length of compartment 210 is defined by door 106 on one end, and wall 202 at the other end. The location of wall 202 generally defines the width or length dimension of separate container 250 because separate container 250 fits within space 220 defined as the volume below wall 202 as shown in FIG. 2A.

Separate container 250 may preferably be manufactured from a silicone material for ease of cleaning, and further to be resistant to retaining certain tobacco and smoke smells. Alternatively, separate container 250 may be manufactured from other materials, such as various types of thermoplastics.

Another key element of the tool kit system 100 is a grinder screen 130 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B. The grinder screen 130 is a thin, flat screen material that can be formed within the utility case 102 during manufacturing, or may be integrally formed of the same material as the utility case 102. In an alternative embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, grinder screen 130 is a thin, flat screen that slidably fits into utility case 102 along a groove 310 or a shelf formed along the edges of the utility case 102. Importantly, with grinder screen 130 in position in utility case 102, as shown in FIG. 2B, the screen 130 covers compartment 210. By having the grinder screen 130 positioned directly above compartment 210, the user may easily rub or grind his or her tobacco product along the top of the grinder screen 130 such that cleaned, uniform tobacco product falls directly into compartment 210 for immediate usage or storage for later usage.

More particularly, with the cleaned tobacco in compartment 210, the user can immediately load the bat 140 for smoking. Specifically, with the cleaned, generally uniform sized tobacco product in compartment 210, after having been cleaned through the grinder screen 130, the user can immediately place the smoker's bat 140 into compartment 210 and twist the bat 140 slightly to force an appropriate amount of such tobacco product into the bat 140 end for immediate smoking by the user.

The grinder screen 130 may be manufactured from a metal material, such as aluminum or stainless steel, or alternatively from any other relatively rigid material such as a polycarbonate or polyvinyl chloride thermoplastic. For the embodiment where the grinder screen 130 is integrally formed as part of the utility case 102, the grinder screen 130 could be manufactured, as noted above, from the same material used to manufacture the utility case 102.

As shown in FIG. 2B and FIG. 3, for the embodiment having a removable grinder screen 130, utility case 102 has a cutout section 320 located above one edge of grinder screen 130 where the screen 130 slides into position within utility case 102. The cutout section 320 provides the user with easy access to the grinder screen 130 and the ability to readily slide screen 130 out of the utility case 102. FIG. 4 shows in the same embodiment depicted in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3, the end of utility case 102 and the two end doors 106, 108 in a closed configuration over compartments 210 and 204 respectively.

FIG. 5 shows a cutaway intersection view of the utility case 102 detailing the relative cross-sectional size of each compartment 210 and 204, along with showing the location of slot 310 into which the grinder screen 130 is slid. As described above, compartment 204 is dimensioned to house the bat 140 along with the poker/scooper cleaning 150 tools. Compartment 210, having an open top that is coverable by grinder screen 130 and pivotable door 110, is dimensioned to capture ground and cleaned tobacco product that can then be packed into the bat 140 by placing the bat 140 into compartment 210 and twisting the bat 140 to force the tobacco product into the smoking end of bat 140. The location, placement, and positioning of the grinder screen is accordingly fully innovative and highly useful for smoking product users.

In another embodiment, to assist with cleaning the grinder screen 130 and to hold the screen 130 in position within the utility case 102, flexible pads or scrubbers 510 a, 510 b may be placed along one interior edge of compartment 210 above and below slot 310, as shown in FIG. 5. Such flexible pads 510 a, 510 b provide a slight retaining force against grinder screen 130 with the screen 130 fully in position in utility case 102. Moreover, in use, after the user grinds and cleans his or her tobacco product, the user can then slide grinder screen 130 out from slot 310 formed in utility case 102 through use of cutout section 320, and by sliding grinder screen 130 through flexible pads 510 a, 510 b, any tobacco product loosely attached to the grinder screen 130 will be dislodged and fall into compartment 210.

As described, in part, above, compartment 210 may have wall 202 positioned to allow for at least one separate containers 250 to be positioned below the grinder screen 130. With a plurality of separate containers, the user can store separate types of tobacco or concentrates within the utility case without the tobacco or concentrates being mixed or commingled. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 6A, in such an embodiment, compartment 210 is sized and includes wall 202 to form a sub-compartment 220 sized to house one or more separate containers 250.

In another embodiment where wall 202 forms two compartments 210 and 220 below the grinder screen 130, the wall 202 may be repositionable or adjustable in location. With such a movable wall 202, the relative size or length of the two respective compartments 210 and 220 is fully within the discretion of the user. By repositioning or moving wall 202, the compartment 210 may be shortened thereby making the packing of the bat (or one-hitter) 140 easier because the tobacco is located closer to the open end of compartment 210 into which the bat 140 is inserted.

In one embodiment, the wall 202 may be repositioned or adjusted in location by simply sliding the wall 202 out of the compartment and moving it or sliding it into another location to thereby decrease/increase the length dimension of compartments 210 and 220. For this embodiment, a plurality of slots may be formed in the utility case 102 into which the wall 202 may be positioned or repositioned. To reposition wall 202, the grinder screen 130 must first be removed or at least partially removed to allow access to compartment 210 and wall 202. Having a removable wall 202, also allows for easy cleaning of the compartments 210 and 220.

In another embodiment, a lever or slide may be integrally formed as part of wall 202. By moving the lever or slide in one direction or the opposite direction, the wall is accordingly moved, and the length dimension of compartment 210 is varied as the lever or slide is moved by the user. For this embodiment, the grinder screen 130 does not need to first be removed to allow for repositioning of the wall 202.

In a different embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6B, compartment 210 has a plurality of sub-compartments 220 a, 220 b, 220 c sized to house three separate containers 250 a, 250 b, 250 c. For this multiple sub-compartment embodiment, a plurality of walls, 202 a, 202 b, and 202 c are located within compartment 210, with wall 202 c being positioned closest to door 106. As shown in FIG. 6B, the separate containers may have cover sections connected to the container body by a flexible living hinge, and thereby retain contents within each container.

To ensure that the two end doors 106, 108 do not inadvertently open or become dislodged, in a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6A, each door 106, 108 may be formed to have a lip or protrusion 606, 608 on doors 106, 108 respectively that fits into an opposing opening or valley 610, 611 formed in the utility case 102. In operation, when the door 106 is pushed into a closed position, the lip 606 snaps into place in opening 610. Due to the flexibility of the edge of utility case 102, when the lip 606 snaps into place in opening 610 the user hears an audible “pop” or snap. Similarly, when the user pulls the door 106 open away from the utility case 102, the user again hears an audible “pop” as the lip 606 snaps away from the opposing opening 606.

In addition to the above disclosed and described smoker's tools that may be housed in the system 100, other tools or elements may also be stored in the utility case 102 having multiple storage compartments 204, 210. Such tools or smoker's elements may include, by way of example, screens, hemp wick, mouth pieces, and/or rolling papers.

While several preferred embodiments and features of the inventive smoker's system of tools and utility case 100 have been described and disclosed, in particular with reference to certain figures and drawings showing certain exemplary embodiments that relate to a particular sized case and sub-compartments, such a case and the particular design shown are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the inventive device or inventive products. For example, as described above, the utility case 100 may be manufactured from different materials, and be manufactured with a different size or dimension than shown in the attached figures. Further, in view of the personal attachment of users to their particular tool kit systems, the utility case may include various different outside design configurations or ornamental features. All such alternate embodiments are believed to be within the scope of the inventive design and the below claims.

It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that other modifications, substitutions, and/or other applications are possible and all such modifications, substitutions and applications are within the true scope and spirit of the present invention. It is likewise understood that the above disclosure and attached claims are intended to cover all such modifications, substitutions, and/or applications. 

What I claim as my invention is:
 1. A smoker's utility system, comprising: a case having at least two compartments formed within said case; each of said at least two compartments having at least one openable door located at one end of each said at least two compartments; at least one of said at least two compartments having an openable full length lid formed as a partial top to said case; at least one sub-compartment formed within one of said at least two compartments; at least one separate, removable container sized to fit within said at least one sub-compartment; a grinder card section positioned within said case and said grinder card section covering one of said at least two compartments; a one-hitter smoking device that fits into one of said at least two compartments; and a poker tool that fits into one of said at least two compartments and may be used to clean an air passage in said one-hitter smoking device.
 2. The smoker's utility system of claim 1, wherein said grinder screen is integrally formed as part of said case.
 3. The smoker's utility system of claim 1, further comprising a card-type slot formed along at least two edges of said case, and wherein said grinder card is removable by sliding said grinder card within said card-type slot.
 4. The smoker's utility system of claim 1, wherein said case is manufactured from a thermoplastic material.
 5. The smoker's utility system of claim 1, wherein said case is manufactured from a heat resistant thermoplastic material.
 6. The smoker's utility system of claim 1, wherein said case is manufactured from metal.
 7. The smoker's utility system of claim 3, wherein said removable grinder card is manufactured from metal.
 8. The smoker's utility system of claim 1, wherein said at least one separate, removable container is used to store tobacco.
 9. The smoker's utility system of claim 1, wherein said at least one separate, removable container is made of silicone.
 10. The smoker's utility system of claim 1, wherein said at least one separate, removable container is made of a thermoplastic material.
 11. The smoker's utility system of claim 3, further comprising flexible wiper pads positioned above and below said card-type slot to dislodge tobacco from said removable grinder card as said grinder card is slid out of said case.
 12. The smoker's utility system of claim 1, wherein one of at least two compartments formed within said case has a length dimension that is shorter than a length of said one-hitter smoking device.
 13. The smoker's utility system of claim 1, wherein one of at least two compartments formed within said case has a length dimension that is shorter than a length of said one-hitter smoking device, and further wherein said length dimension is adjustable.
 14. The smoker's utility system of claim 13, wherein said length dimension is adjusted by repositioning a wall into one of a plurality of slot sets formed within said case.
 15. The smoker's utility system of claim 13, wherein said length dimension is proportionally adjusted by moving a lever connected to a moveable wall.
 16. The smoker's utility system of claim 1, further comprising on at least one of said at least one openable door and said openable full length lid a flexible lip that fits into an opposing opening within said case to maintain said doors and lid in a closed position.
 17. The smoker's utility system of claim 1, further comprising magnets to provide a retaining force to each said door and lid to maintain said door and lid in a closed position, and to provide a pulling force to said one-hitter smoking device and poker tool when said door of said compartment housing said one-hitter smoking device and poker tool is opened to partially remove said one-hitter smoking device and said poker tool.
 18. The smoker's utility system of claim 1, further comprising sealing elements along perimeters of each of said openable doors and openable full-length lid.
 19. A compact smoker's utility device, comprising: a case having at least two compartments formed within said case; each of said at least two compartments having at least one openable door located at one end of each said at least two compartments; at least one of said at least two compartments having an openable full length lid formed as a partial top to said case; and a grinder card positioned to fully cover said compartment having an openable full length lid.
 20. The compact smoker's utility device of claim 19, wherein said grinder card is integrally formed within said case.
 21. The compact smoker's utility device of claim 19, wherein said grinder card is removable by sliding into a card-type slot formed along at least one side of said case.
 22. The compact smoker's utility device of claim 19, wherein said case is manufactured from a thermoplastic material.
 23. The compact smoker's utility device of claim 19, wherein said grinder card is manufactured from metal.
 24. The compact smoker's utility device of claim 19, further comprising: a one-hitter smoking device that fits into one of said at least two compartments; and a poker tool that fits into one of said at least two compartments.
 25. The compact smoker's utility device of claim 19, wherein one of at least two compartments formed within said case has a length dimension that is shorter than a length of a standard one-hitter smoking device.
 26. The compact smoker's utility device of claim 25, wherein said length dimension of said one of at least two compartments is adjustable. 